Duale explains main reason for shutting down 983 health facilities
By Mustafa Juma, July 9, 2025Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has explained the motive behind his decision to shut down 983 health facilities across the country.
According to Duale, the closure of the facilities was necessitated by their failure to meet basic licensing requirements and uphold the standards set by regulatory authorities.
Speaking during an interview with a local TV station on the night of Wednesday, July 9, 2025, Duale emphasised that the government’s decision was not politically motivated but aimed at restoring order and integrity in the country’s healthcare system, particularly within private and community-based facilities.
SHA fraud
He argued that some health facilities were defrauding the Social Health Authority (SHA).
“I have shut down facilities because they have not met the requirements and the standards that they were given based on their license. Because for you to operate a health facility, whether it is private, public, or faith-based, a certain standard for different levels has to be met,” Duale said.
“There are people who were used to defrauding the Social Health Authority (SHA), so we did an audit by the regulator and found 948 across the 47 counties, mainly private facilities, that were either ghost. Some of them closed and ran away when our inspectors went. Some of them were in the wrong level, some of them did not have the right health workers, and some of them claimed to have theatres, but there were no theatres. We had no choice; we closed.”
RUPHA faults Duale
The Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has faulted the Ministry of Health for the closure of the 983 health facilities and downgrading of 487 others, warning that the move is severely affecting Kenyans’ access to healthcare.
The facilities were shut down or downgraded for non-compliance with standards and inadequate bed capacity, according to the ministry.
Speaking during a meeting with the National Assembly Committee on Health, the Council of Governors Chair, and CS Duale, RUPHA Chair Dr. Brian Lishenga said the closures were unprocedural and carried out without fair administrative action.
“It is scary for the health minister to say they would rather remain with 100 facilities when we have issues of accessing medical facilities. What happens to pregnant mothers who depend on such facilities?” Lishenga said.